Stablehand Ruby McIntyre, who filmed Jamie Kah ‘white powder’ video, suspended by Victorian Racing Tribunal
Ruby McIntyre, who took and sent the controversial white powder footage, has been handed a three-month suspension.
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A stablehand has been suspended in the final instalment of the white powder scandal that embroiled champion jockey Jamie Kah.
On Wednesday, the three-person Victorian Racing Tribunal panel, comprised of Judge Bowman, former RV chief steward Des Gleeson and former jockey Maree Payne, suspended Ruby McIntyre for three months.
However, the tribunal suspended one month of the penalty on the condition McIntyre did not offend in a similar manner for the next two years.
McIntyre was also fined $750, also suspended for two years.
McIntyre, who took and sent the controversial footage, faced a charge of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the image and welfare of racing.
McIntyre pleaded not guilty to the charge in last year’s hearing.
However, the VRT found McIntyre guilty of the offence in December last year.
READ | ‘So relieved’: Kah responds after white powder charge dismissed
On Wednesday, McIntyre produced character references from leading trainer Ciaron Maher and two key employees when making her submission about penalty.
RV’s counsel Marwan El-Asmar asked the VRT to hand down a suspension of between three and six months.
McIntyre, representing herself at Wednesday’s session, said her living arrangements at one of Maher’s staff houses could “become complicated” if she was suspended for a long period.
McIntyre conceded she “made a mistake trusting the one person” to whom she sent the video of Kah.
She added it was out of character to engage in such actions.
“Everyone that knows me knows I don’t do that sort of thing,” McIntyre told the tribunal.
“It’s not my morals. It’s not my character. If I was to know that would happen, I would never have done it.”
Racing Victoria stewards and McIntyre will work out the dates on which her suspension starts and ends.
READ | ‘Cowards, disrespectful’: Jamie Kah’s barrister slams white powder case
Kah was cleared of any wrongdoing at a Victorian Racing Tribunal hearing last December after a video emerged of her playing with an unknown white powder in a private gathering last year.
VRT chair Judge John Bowman said at the time the tribunal could not be satisfied Kah’s conduct was prejudicial to the interests of racing because she was unaware the video was taken and sent.
Originally published as Stablehand Ruby McIntyre, who filmed Jamie Kah ‘white powder’ video, suspended by Victorian Racing Tribunal